Retractable brush and casing therefor



y 12, 1953 A. F. TOMLINSON 2,637,869

RETRACTABLE BRUSH AND CASING THEREFOR Filed Dec. 3, 1948 vIIIIIQIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIA INVENTOR. AFC/W15 Fem/K OZ A SOA/ Patented May12, 1953 RETRACTABLE BRUSIi AND CASING THEREFOR Archie Frank Tomlinson,Oakland, Calif.

to such brushes as are carried by the user when away from home, as atthe office, or when travel; ing; Small brushes such as nail brushes,toothbrushes; etc., have been carried for years by fastidious personsand to meet the demand for brushes of the requisite size, durability andwithal inexpensiveness, various arrangements for this purpose have beenproposed. A desideratum which is at once apparent is that the brushshall remain sanitary and clean despite the manner in which it iscarried about and the condition of other articles with which it may comein contact. Ifcarried in ones pocket, pocketbook or even in a travelingkit without a protecting cover of some kind,' the bristles of the brushreadily collect dust and foreign matter. Accordingly, various covers orcases for brushes of this type are known to the art which are more orless effective for their intended purpose. I

A disadvantage of many cases of the ordinary type is that they areprovided in addition to the brush itself thereby increasing the overalldimensions of the unit. Also cases as usually provided are inadequatelyfastened in their closed position with the frequent result that thecover becomes partially or completely removed from t the body of thecase during the normal daily activities of the user and the protectionof the ,case thereby nullified. The co-operating parts of many of suchcases also are poorly fitted even when fully closed, have no positivelocking means for the cover due either to the additional bulk that wouldresult or the additional expense infvolved. There is a need therefore,for a brush of the type referred to and a unitary casing which willserve its purpose'effectively and will constitute a unit only slightlylarger than the brush itself. It is accordingly an object'of thisinvention to provide a unitary brush for personal use and easingtherefor which shall realize, in large measure, the last namedadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 'brush for personal usewhich is retractable within its casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush which is normallyfully enclosed in and protected by its casing, but is instantlyavailable 'for use when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary brush and casingin which the former Applica tionDecember 3, 1948, Serial No; 63,355

' 3 Claims. (01. 15-484) 2 I I is securely locked within the latteratalltimes and under all conditions except that of posit'iv release ofthe'locking means provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary brush and casingin which the latter not only looks the former within its interior whennot in use, but also has a second-locking position in which the brushand casing form a rigid unit and in which the brush is ready for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary brush and casingin which the latter not only serves as a protecting cover but also as ahandle for the brush when in use.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentin the following description and claims considered together with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of my improved brush andeasing unit, in closed position.

' Figure 2 is a vertical, sectional view taken cen- 'trally of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but wit the brush in extendedposition and the upper and lower portions of the casing broken away-inthe interest of clarity.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line (2- 3 ofFigure 2 and looking in th direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of a modified form of myinvention, but with bristles of the brush pointing in a direction awayfrom the observer and the lower portion of the casing shown as brokenaway, and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 65 of Figure 5and looking in the direction of the arrows. A I

Referring now more particularly to the drawing and to Figure 1 thereofthere is shown my brush and casing unit in closed position, and in whichposition there is a general similarity of appearance to the ordinarypocket type of fountain pen. In fact, the preferred overall dimensionsof this nail brush and casing do not materially exceed those of theusual pocket fountain pen.

In Figures 1 and 2 the casing is seen to comprise a generallycylindrical body I of material similar to that employed in fountain penmanudiameter as it approaches the upper end of spring 3 when the unit isin closed position (Figure 2). From a horizontal plane somewhat belowthis end and thence upwardly to the annular abutment or stop 4 in whichthe body I terminates, the inner wall 5 of the body I is of uniformcross section to constitute a cylinder for a cylindrical block 6 snuglyguided therein. The lower end of block 6 is provided with a. centralrecess '1 which serves as a seat for the upper end or spring 3.

The cooperation of the component parts 0! my invention thus fardescribed will be readily apparent from a consideration of Figure 3 towhich attention is now invited. Such figure shows cylindrical block 6 inits upper guided position within the cylindrical wall of the body I andseated against the annular stop 4 through the pressure exerted by spring3. Also it will be noted from Figure 4 that the preferred form ofcylindrical casing has elliptical cross-section rather than circular inorder that the block 6 will not turn in its retaining cylinder and thatthe brushes united thereto will always be in the same and rigid relationwith respect to the body i when the unit is in the position of Figure 3.The inclination of the inner wall above recess 2 serves as a stop tolimit the inward position or block 6 and terminates just below thelatter in its position within the casing body (Figure 2) As a retainerfor positively locking the brushes carried by the block 6 and therebythe latter, inclosed position within the body I there is provided asnap-acting clip indicated generally at 8 and comprising a band portion9 encircling the central portion of the body 1 to which it is firmlysecured, a tongue Ii] extending vertically from the band ii to theannular abutment 4 where it terminates in an annular closure-ring Hadapted to seat on the abutment 4 when the brush and casing are inclosed posi-- tion (Figure 2). Clip 8 also includes a pocket engagingmember l2 resembling somewhat in appearance clips for fountain pens.Such member includes a ring 13 superposed on ring H and having adownwardly extending tongue M terminating in a ball 15 and overlying thetongue I0. Since the pocket engaging member l2 closely engages thetongue it and ring H its efiect will be to reinforce the spring actionof these members. 7 V

For uniting the component parts of the clip 8 just described and forexerting the closure pressure to be derived therefrom there is provideda central stud or button it including an enlarged upper cap H, acentral, uniting portion l8which extends through and entirely fills theopenings in rings H and I3, and a lower cap i9 securely uniting therings H and I3 and serving as a closure for the annular abutment 4. Aswill be apparent from the drawing and from the invention as thus fardescribed, the form of the brush to which the preceding components maybe adapted is largely a matter of choice. In Figures 1 to 4, forexample, a nail brush 20 is shown having an elongated, bristle carrier2| whose lower end is embedded in block 6 in any desired manner. Aslender tine '22 ior cleaning beneath the nails may also be imbedded inblock 4 if desired. Regardless of the particular purpose of the brush,it is desired to provide a notch or similar indentation 23 in the backwall of the carrier 21 adapted for engagement by the ring H and thus tolock the carrier, block 4, body i and clip 8 together in 4 a virtuallyrigid unit. It will be noted that the body I also serves as a convenienthandle for the brush in this position.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a modification of the casingpreviously described and designated particularly for a toothbrush to becontained therein. Accordingly the cross-section of this modified casingis altered from the elliptical cross-section of Figured in a manner toprovide an inner chamber 25 of rectangular cross-section for receivingthe toothbrush 25 therein. The body 21 corresponding to the body l 01the first-described form of the invention is not simply an enlargementof the inner crosssection but has the side walls centrallygandlongltudinally thickened symmetrically to give the casing body a"rounded-rectangular form that is not only pleasing in appearance, andcompact but is likewise of increased strength and rigidity as: will bereadily apparent. Block 28 guided within the body 4 snugly fits withinthe interior thereof as before and has in this form of the invention thebristle carrier 29 embedded in the block as shown in Figure 5. However,it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that by tapering thecarrier into the block, these j parts could be moulded in one piecesatisfactorily.

In either event, the notch 23 for engagement by the ring 13 of the clip8 is provided as be fore for the purpose of rigidly uniting the cosingand brush for use in the extended position of the latter. Also. ifdesired to provide for they circulation of air for drying the bristlesof toothbrush 26 after use, suitable apertures in the body may beprovided.

I claim:

'1. A unitary brush and casing therefor comprising a generallycylindrical body having a longitudinal passageway closed at its lowerend and open at its upper end, means defining a stop member adjacentsaid upper end and restricting' the opening thereat, a block guided insaid passageway intermediate its ends, spring means between said closed,lower end and said block for urging the latter upwardly, a bristle brushhaving a carrier portion embedded in said block extending thereabove,and a lockin: cap disposable across said open, upper and to tightlyenclose said brush within said body or movable therefrom to permit saidspring means to move said block and brush upwardly into a position ofuse wherein the upper end portion of said block is in engagement withsaid stop member, and means normally urging said locking cap into saidposition across said open. upper end.

2. A unitary brush and easing therefor com-- prising a generallycylindrical body having a longitudinal passageway closed at its lowerendand open at its upper end. a block snugly guided in said passagewayintermediate its ends, a coil spring between said closed lower end andsaid block for urging the. latter upwardly. an upwardly extendingbristle brush having a carrier portion the lower end of which embeddedin said block, and a locking cap for the upper end of said passagewayand adapted to be moved laterally thereof when it is desired to ejectsaid brush to a position of use, said ca including a mounting bandencircling said body and united thereto, a ring portion adapted to seatover said opening and a resilient tongue joining said ring portion andsaid band for ursins Said ring portion into seating position.

3.- A unitary brush and casing therefor con prising a generallycylindrical body having a longitudinal passageway closed at its lowerend and having an annular abutment restricting its opening at the upperend, a block snugly guided in said passageway intermediate its ends, acoil spring between said closed lower end and said block for urging thelatter upwardly into contact with said abutment, a bristle brush havinga notched carrier portion embedded in said block. and extendingthereabove, and a locking cap disposable across said open, upper end totightly enclose said brush within said body or movable therefrom topermit said spring means to move said block and brush upwardly into aposition of use in which the marginal portion of. said cap engages thenotched portion of said carrier to lock said carrier and easingtogether.

ARCHIE FRANK TOMLINSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberNumber

